Door-controller



W. H. DURANT.

DOOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICAUQN FILED JAN. 3l. 1919.

1,33 1,829. Peeeneed Feb. 17,1920;

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Fig. 1.

W. H. DURANT.

DOOR CONTROLLER.

APPLIyCATxoN man 1AN.31. 1919.

Patented Feb. l?, i920.

se!! is. PIII-l...)

` Invenor.

Willlam H. DuranT W. H. DURANT.Y

DOOR CONTROLLER.

APPUCATIUN FILED 1AN.31. 1919.

1 ,3 3 l ,329. Iatend Feb. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. @D f2 Fig. lO.

InvenTor. Wilaom H Durcm.

` WILLIAM H. DURANT, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

specification of Letters raient.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed. January 31, 1919. Serial No. 274,168.

accompanying drawing, is a specification,

like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

.This invention relates to a door controller or a device for controlling the opening' or closing of a door.

The object of the invention is to provide a controller which shall loe simple in its construction, efficient in its action, and which shall not be likely to get out of order und-er the severe conditions of usage to which such a device. is subjected.

The object of the invention is to provide door controller which shall check or retard the door at the end of its movement as in closing` so that the door will not slam nor pinch the ingers it resting on the jamb.

IThe object of the invention is to provide `a door controller in which Ya signa-l shall -be actuated at a predetermined point in the opening or closing movement ot the door.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully Yfrom the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed outvin the claims.

The drawings show preferred Yforms of structures embodying the invention.

A.ln the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side .elevation largely in vertical cross-section of a doo]` controller embodying the invention and designed tor et'- 'ecting-the closing of the door; for checking the door in the latter portion of its openingl movement, for retaining the 'door at the end olf its opening nio-vement in open positieni-and for checking the door in the latter portion. of its closing movement;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2-2 oi Fig. l;

3 is a view in transverse cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

CIL

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a door with a dclvice such as shown in Fig. l applied thereto,

the door being shown closed in full lines and open in dotted'lines;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l buto'f another form of constructionembodying the invention in which a signal is provided actuated during the latter portion of the ope-nresults which it is desired to secure.

ing movement of the door, in which no provision is made for opening or closing the door by the action of the controller itself, and in which the guide or socket member is of circular cross section;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upright portion of the construction shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse cross section taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 5;

Fig, 8 is a view in transverse crossI section taken on the line 8*8, Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a door with the construction shown in Fig. 5 applied thereto, the door being shown closed, and the controller being shown connected from the door to a wall extending at right angles to the door;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. l in which the construction is designed to return a door to an intermediate position when swung in either direction therefrom;

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a door and a device such as shown in Fig. 10 applied thereto, the door being shown in full lines in its closed or intermediate position and in dotted lines in positions to which it may be opened in opposite directions;

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation and partially in vertical cross section taken on the line 12-l2, Fig. 10.

This invention presents a device which may take various i'orms depending upon the It is` capable of controlling the movement of the door in various ways and under a variety of conditions. Inv its preferred form it is more particularly designed l'or effecting the closing movement of a swinging door.

A simple and preferred construction for effecting the closing movement of the swinging door is shown in Figs. l to il inclusive of the drawing.

A. door 1 of an ordinary swinging type is shown hinged at Q to the usual relatively Vlixed sl'ipport such as the vertical 'jamb 3. The door when closed alines with the jamb -ilf at the other side.

The controller comprises essentially relative sli ling members 5 and 6 one of which is connected to theA door and the other of which is connected to the relatively ixed support such as the amb. ln the case ot the usual swinging door these members are connected to the door and fixed support respectively by pivotal connections. In any case the relative sliding movement of the two members is availed of for securing the desired, usually the closing, movementv of .the door. v-

In the preferred form of the invention the two members of which the controller vis formed area hollow socket member 6 anda `plunger member sliding in the socket meinber. ln the form shown in Fig. 1 vthis socket member is formed of square metal'tubing to present the hollow square section Y shown in Il." 3. Y At vigt-s pivotal end itA is djraii'n downJV formed or Vreinforced to, presentthe hingedtong'iie fr' which is loosely piiiote'd between the lugsS ofa bracket 9 secured to the Yj amb 3. The pii'ot may be an ordinary headed pin 1l?) yheld in place by a ,cotter pinv i .11. Theopposite end ,of this guide or socket vmember G is left open for the c oipeiatiiig :or

plunger member 5.

The pliiiigeimember '5 is prelei'ably solid -A yand presents a` shank which at one -end is formed into a hinged tongue 1-2 piioted Eto r` secured to thev door `1.V v

abracket lysimilar to the bracket l), and

rlhis plunger niember at a `point which is opposite the ,open V,iid of the socket member when the members j at' their greatest elongation in vuse is cessed about itsperiphery and into ithis re'- cess is fitted suitable packing material 1l. Thus as the relative sliding'V movement the two members takes place oil and 'grease are 'prevented passing .out of, and .di/rt and foreign substance are prevented from pass-A V.ing intothe interior lof the socket member.

The inner or telescopi-nn' end 4of the guide or plunger member -is .pre-fei.'ably of across i section to correspond in general with the in-v '.the member o bottom at a plurality of points with cesses extending transversely ali-id having' the terior cross section of the socketfn'iember and lits loosely therein sons to aioid l'f1-riction but at the same time lmaintains the two members in alinenieiit. Suitable anti-fricrtion devices arerpreferably 4provided.lief' tween the two members; Yl41 or this purpose is shown as provided thi shape of `the major segment of a cylin er.

-vllollerabearings 15 are slipped eiidwise into Y i these; recesses, are of a length to ht Aquite. closely against the side walls .of the socket members. and project slightly below the bottom ofthe 'plunger member and thus ride upon-the bottom of the socket member.

The'coperating' action of the' relatively sliding members -of the device is effected through or by the agency of a follower mounted upon the one .member and pressed laterally against a lateral surface .of the other member. This construction is Iprefer`- ably secured by provid-,ing a folloii'eicasing rigidly 4secured to and projecting laterally fromthe socket `member.

is made of square tubi-ng" of the same-character as the socket member 6 and is b razed or ln the form Y. shown m Figs. 1 to 4L this folloiver casing 16' 'welded at 17 to the edfes of a s iiare ooeni ing in the top surface of theL socket member.

"lhe follower is conveniently shown as an anti-friction roll 18 journaled in the lower 'end of a follower plunger 19 which is preferably of rectangular cross Vsection to fit and slide easily in the interior of thejeasing 16. The follower lcasing may be` closedby a cap 20 and held in place by threaded screws 21 yis lprovided with a flange 26 irittingagaiiist the b'ottorncof the cap Q O'and a lock init 27 'is threaded onto the upper end i of ythe pin.

sei-ting a screw driver the .slot 28 the fcollar 24E is raised or lowered to adjust the lernY sion of the spring and whenV theiaroper tension is obtained the `lock vmit Zris .setupV vand the adjustment tli-us :maintained In Vorder-.to prevent accidental separation Y of the vplimgrer and socket members, espe- Consequently, by turning the pinas iby incial-ly vbefore the device ,is installed the inner end of the plunger member is upturn'ed at 29 Yto Contact with the .follower 18 -thiis ren- Vdering it necessaryto remove the -cap 2O and raise the follower when `it isdes'ired'to sep# larate the Vtwo members. K' Y f Y The control of therelaitive -sliding` morement of lthe members andconseqiiently of the moyementof the door isei'ectedby the action of the follower upon ,the opposedlateral surface of the cooperating slidingmeni-- ber which iii this case is the plunger member 5 and this lateralfsiirface maybe sliaped'to give any required result. Y g' ,v'k .Y For-example, when the door Is of Ythe swingingty-pe .illustrated and is being closed Y either automatically or -nianiially it is Vfrequently desirable to vcheck this ,closiug'movement near its end so Vthat the door will notv iio slam or so .that it will not strike and injure a personslingers resting' on the jamb.' This checking' of the :final closing iiioifeiiieiit is."

`provided .foifby arraiiginga"lateral .pro-V jection 30 near the inner end ofthe pliiirgjcrV member so `that as the door isfnearly Vclosed the follower-118 riding 'up ,over .thisV projection will .check the izelativeslidiirig morementof the tivo memb isan extending nioiiemnt. It' is V'obvious that the shape and number of the projections ..30 may be varied to secure any suc-h desired result. I A

which in thiscase f VViso Again, for example, it may be desirable Y to retain the door at some predetermined `open position, that is, either where it is partially or-wide open. This result may be sliding members, the follower 18 coming oppositethe recess 31 will drop thereiuto and if movement is not then checked will drop into the next recess and so on.V In any event. one or the other of these recesses will actto check the door and to maintain it Vat the required position. The tension of the spring 1 28, the depth of the recesses and their posiinner end.

tion define the point at which the movement of the door vwill be stopped and the suddenness with which it will be checked.

The recesses 31 with the projections 32l trated hereinafter.

Again, for example, the automatic movement of the door in either direction may be effected. The movement which it is usually desired to eect is a closing movement and a construction for this purpose is also illustrated. This is secured by providing a lateral surface 33 on the plunger member lof ther required length and inclined toward the This surface is so positioned with respect to the follower that when the follower rests at any point on the inclined surface it will wedge or press the plunger member outwardly until the lowest point of the inelinedfsurface comes opposite vthe follower. In the form illustrated this results in an extending sliding movement of the two members and in the automatic closing of the door. The position of this inclined surface, its extent, and its angle together with the tension of the spring 23 enable any required movement of the door to be effected automatically by a controlling device. 1n the case of heavy door or doors which move .with diiiiculty auxiliary means may also be provided for assisting in this automatic movement, such as the Closing movement of the door. Such an auxiliary means is illustrated as a helical spring coiled about the exterior of the relative sliding members 5 and 6, abutting at one end against the plunger casing 16, and abutting at the other end against a screw collar 35 having a threaded engagement with the shank 5 of the plunger member. Consequently, the tension of the spring 341 may be adjusted as required.

The lubrication of the device is readily effected becauseall the working parts are inclosed and the inclosed space sealed up against leakage of the lubricant by the packing 14. The interior of the follower plunger -casing 16 is preferably in communication with the interior of the socket member 'through a lubricating passage-way 36 in the follower plunger. Hence, a suitable lubrij cant introduced into the plunger casing works down into the interior of the socket member and thus all the working parts are lubricated.

are again shown as a hollow or socket meniber 3T and a plunger vmember 38. The members are again shown as controlling the action of a swinging door 39 pivoted at Oxto-a jamb 111. In this case, however,

4the plunger member 38 is shown as pivoted to the door .while the socket member 37 is shown as having its pivotal bracket 42 secured to a wall 43 extending at right angles from the jamb 4:1, an arrangement which is frequently necessary.

rilhe .socket member 87 is here shown as made of cylindrical tubing and the plunger member. 38 as made from a round rod. Packing plunger member in a manner similar to that already described. Anti-friction devices are also provided between the telescoping portions of the two members and in this case an antifriction i'oll. The cap 52 of the follower casing is secured in place by screws 53 passing through the walls of the casing into or against lugs 54. depending from the cap. The pressure of the follower is regulated in a manner already described by the helical spring 55 seated at the bottom in a circular recess in the follower plunger 50 and abutting at the top the collar or nut 56 threaded to the tubular member 57 having the collar or flange 58 beneath the cap and the knurled head or thumb piece 59 above the cap. The nut 56 is square in cross sectionl as before and is freely slidable in the casing 4:9 so that as the pin member 57 is turned this nut slides up or down to adjust the tension of the spring.

The follower plunger 50 is shown prola is Vfitted into a recess in the l, l. l)

its closing movement preventing slamming 57 and projecting above the head 59. Conaudible signal has `been selected and is shownV i suliiciently to sequently the movement of this pin may be utilized to operate a signal ior perform any similar function.`

ture. In order tosillustratetliis feature an as abell or gong 6l the mechanism of which is actuated Vto give a sound vwhen the button 621 is pressed.

place by this-rod passing through a socket in a lugl 64 projecting from the cap 52. A

set screw 65 locks the parts in position.A

Consequently, when the follower is raised press thebutton 62 thebell will be actuate secured by providing projectionsand recesses at the required points and of the required proportions upon the opposed lateral Asurface of the opposed sliding member, in

this case the plunger member. A series of such projections :66 with intermediate recesse's 67 are illustrated and inthe present :case will act to rin'g the bell near the latter portion of the .opening movement of the door.

l In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 9 -inclusive the relative sliding members are 'not arranged to open or close the Vdoor autoniatically and consequently a flat surfaceGS isshown along which the follower rides al? lowing the door to be opened or closed by hand. The projection 6i) with the recesses 70 at each 'side check the door near the Vend of drawings. This construction is particularly designed to effect the Vclosing movement of that type of swinging door whichv is adapted to swing openinieither direction;

frelative sliding members are again sl'iownas l a socket member 7 2 and a plunger member 7 3. the socket member being made of squared :while the plungermember 73 is pivotally 'secured by its bracket 7.9 to the jamb.

tubing 'as already described. Y In this case the door 74 has a reversible hinge 75y by A which it-mayv swingeither into the dotted Vline position 7 6 or the dotted line position 77.Y The-socket member 72 is pivotally secured by its bracket 78 directly to the door Owing `*to the fact that the. door swings in either direction it is necessary to bend vthe shankof the plunger member 73 substan- This bell is shown as pro-V" vided with av supporting rod l63 and held in The mined, however, by variation in distance be-V Vtween the brackets 7 8 land 79 so that the Y operation is iioteffected by this bend in the Y Sucha signal may be of any type of nan* shank.,` .Y Y I In .this construction the closing movement ofthe door is the one. which is Veected.

lvVhen'the door is swung into Vonepositionl the closin'gmovementis effectedv by relament of the Vtwo members. The-follower plunger casing SO and the follower 81, theV helical springSZ and the .means/fori. adjustingnthe ltension of the l Y springmay be landare shown as of a similar The movement .of the follower to effect A vthe actuation ofthe signal or,V the movement of the pinGO for whatever purpose is again p construction to thatillustratedfand described iirconnecti'on withF-igs. 1 to 4. Y So also the an7ti-friction devices between the Y teleseoping plunger and lsocket-membersv are .'terminatingin 4stop surfaces B6 and-87 resjgiectively`V 'These surfaces-are so arr nged fas toflength,.inclination kand position! as to Vrgive the proper control to the movement of the'door. VVY/'ith'fthe parts Vshown in the posi- Y tion illustrated in F ig. ALOf-the Vdoor will be closed and held-in closed position by the Vfollower vrest-ing at the point where the two Yinclined surfaces S4: and 85 Vcome, together.

Consequently the door swings in either direction the' follower will ride-'up oneor the other of the inclined surfaces and iminediately the door' is releasedthe follower will act through the relative sliding moveinent of the two members :toreturn the doors to ,closedposition Stop surfaces 86 and 87 niay'alsobe arranged and utilized `to limit Y the extreme `open position' vofthe ydoor in either-directioii. Y

From these illustrations of several forms which the invention may't'ake it will be seen `that the invention is capable of af wide variety of constructionsv and :of varied combinations of the variousfeatui'es disclosed to effect a wide variety of results, and itis to be understood that the specific embodiments illustrated are simply .for thefpurposerof disclosing some ofthe forms which the invention may take and are not to berconsidered as restrictive ofthe invention nor lis they invention to belimited .other than as `definedbytheclaims. .i-

v Y Havingfully Y described.v my invention what I'clai-in as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is; Y

l A door controller comprising relatively sliding lmembers connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, and means acting transversely of said members for effecting the relative sliding movement of said members to effect the movement of the door.

2. A doorrcontroller comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support one of said members presenting a lateral surface inclined toward its axis, a follower mounted on the other member, and means for pressing said follower toward the opposing member whereby when the follower is opposite said inclined surface a relative sliding movement of said members will be e'ected to 'effect the movement of the door.

53. A door controller comprising relatively sliding plunger and socket members conneoted respectively to the door and a relativelyT iixed support, the said plunger member presenting a lateral surface inclined toward its axis, a, follower mounted on the socket member, and means for pressing said follower toward the plunger member whereby when the follower is opposite said inclined surface a relative sliding movement of said members may be effected to effect the movement of the door.

fl. A door. controller comprising` relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, and means acting transversely of said members for retardingtlie relative movement of said .iembers during the latter portion of the movement of the door. l

5. A door controller comprising telescoping plunger andr guide members pivotally connected respectively to `a 4swinging door and a relatively fixed support, and means acting transversely of said members for re-V tarding the relative movement of said members during the latter portion of the swinging movement of the door.

G. A door controller comprising telescoping plunger and guide members pivotally connected respectively yto a swinging door and a relatively fixed support, and means for retarding the relative extending movement of said members during the latter por tion of the closing movement of the door.

7. A door controller comprising` relatively sliding members comiected respectively to the door and a. relatively fixed support, a pluralityv of lateral projections on one of said members, a follower mounted on the other member, and means for yieldingly pressing said follower toward said opposing member whereby the movement of said members is retarded at a predetermined point in the movement ofthe door. y

8. A door controller comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and arelatively fixed support, a

signal, andmeans for actuating said signal at a predetermined point in the movement of the door.

9'. A door controller comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a signa-l, and means actuating said signal from and during the latter portion of the contracting movement of said members.

l0. A door controller comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a signal, vand ieans for simultaneously actuating said signal and retarding the con tracting movement of said members during the latter portion of thc opening movement of the door.

ll. A door controller' comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a signal, a follower mounted on one of said members, and means for vieldingly pressing said follower toward the other of said members, a lateral project-ion on the opposed member, whereby as the door ismoved to bring thev said projection opposite the said follower the signal will be actuatedf l2. A door controller comprising relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a follower casing mounted upon one of said members and projecting` laterallv therefrom, a follower sliding in said casing, a helical spring abutting said follower. and means for adjusting the tension of said spring, an irregular lateral surface on the other member opposed to said follower, whereby the control of the relative sliding movement of said members and consequently the movement of the door is effected.

13. A door controller comprisingr relatively sliding members connected respectively to the door and a relatively lixed supel port, a follower casing mounted upon one of said members and project-ing laterally therefrom, a :follower sliding in said casing. a helical spring almtting` said follower, and means for adjusting' the tension of said spring, an irregular lateral surface on the other member opposed to said follower. a signal operated by they movement of said plunger in coperation with said lateral surface.

14. A door controller comprising telescoping plunger socket members pivotally connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, and means for retarding the extending movement of said members during the latter portion of the closing movement of the door.

15. A door controller comprising telescoping plunger and socket members pivotally connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a plurality of lateral projections at the inner end of said plunger, a follower mounted on said socketmember, and means for yieldingly pressing' said follower toward said plunger member whereby the extending; movement of said members is retarded during the latter por-V tion of the closing movement of the door.

16.. Adoor controller comprising the con struction dened in claim 15 together withv ally connected respectively to the door and a relatively xed support, a signal, and means for simultaneously actuating sa-id signal and retarding the' coilitract-ing movement of said members during the' latter portion of the opening movement of' the' door.

19. A door controller comprising te'lescopingplunger and socket members pivotallyconnectedfrespectively to the door and a relatively fixed supportga plurality' of l-at. era-l projections onthe said plunger member at a' predetermined distance from the inner end thereof, a follower mounted on said socket member,- and means-'for' yieldingly pressing said follower toward said plunger member, al signal operated by the movement of saidy follower whereby as the door is opened to a predetermined extent the said projections will move the plunger to operate the signal.y

20. A door controller comprising telescopnig, plunger and socket members pivotw Y all-y connected respectively to thel doorland a relativelytixed support, the said' plunger bresenting a lateral surfacev inclined toward itsaxis and toward its inner end, a follower mounted oir said socket member, and means for yieldinglypressing said follower toward said plunger member whereby when the inclined surface of thel plunger member is op'- posite thefollbwerthe' said socket and pl`unger -members will be given an extending movement tof close the door.

S217. A door controller comprising the' con# struction defined in claim 2() together withf a plurality of lateral projections' at tlie'inner end of said plunger member' tocopei'jate with thesai'dj follower retail-'cling the 'extending movement of, said membersduring the* latter portion ofthe closing movement of the'door. f e Y 22. A door controller: comprising the con: struction defined in claim 20 togetherY with a plurality oflateral projections upon' the plunger member at a predetermined distanccitrom theinner endthereof acting to v copeiate with the saidffollower to retard the contracting movement of the said members when the' door is opened to a predetermined extent;

232 A door controller comprising the con` struction defined in claim 2O together with a plurality oflateral projections on saidplunger at each end of said inclined surfacel acting tocoperate with the said follower to retard the latter portions of the relativ movements of said members.

24; A door controller comprising. the construction' defined in claim 20' togetherwith auxili'aryfmeans for assisting inAl the Vextending movement of' said members;

V25'. A door controller comprising the corr-l struetien defined in claim 20 together with a helicalv spr-ing s,urroundinetl said membes and having'its ends held against movement respectively by the socket member and the plunger member when said spring affords auxiliary means for assisting. in the extending; movement of said members. l

26. A door controller comprising the' construction dened in claim' 25 together with means for adjusting .the tensioni of' said spring 27. A door controller comprisingftelescoping plunger and socket, members pivotally connected respectively to the door and a relatively fixed support, a casing projecting laterally from' tli'esoclr-et `members?, a follower mounted to slide in said casing and Contact with theinner end'- Vof tliefplifu'iger member, and aspring in said casing acting to press the follower 'against the` plunger Y member.

28. yA door controller comprising the Vconstruction defined in claim 27 togetherfwithmeans' for adjusting the tension yof said' Y spring.

29; A door controller comprising the' construction deii'ied in clainr 2.7 together with a signal mounted o1r said? casing. and means for effecting the operation ofsa'id signal from' the movement of plunger.

In testimony whereof I have signed my! name to this specieatifon.-

' TILLIAM DURANT. 

